Ereck Flowers

Combine Results

Grade

5.31 SEC

37 REPS

Draft Analysis:

"Flowers is a big, strong, power man. He's a powerful run blocker and has prototypical tackle traits. He reminds me of the 49ers' Anthony Davis when he came out of Rutgers." -- Mike Mayock

6'6" Height

34 1/2" Arm Length

329LBS. Weight

9 7/8" Hands

Overview

As a junior in 2014, started all but one game at left tackle and was second-team All-ACC selection. Flowers suffered a knee injury in the middle of the season and reportedly underwent a surgical procedure to repair the injury but missed only one game because of it. Admonished for using an obscene gesture toward Nebraska fans after an on-field skirmish. In 2013, started all 13 games at left tackle. In 2012, started four games as a freshman at right tackle. Ranked as a four-star prospect by Scout and Rivals coming out of Miami Norland High School. Helped lead team to a 15-0 record and Class 5A state championship. Was the only player at the NFL Scouting Combine who decided not to hire an agent.

Pro Day Results

Vertical jump: 27 inches

Analysis

Strengths

Big, athletic frame carrying more than 320 pounds with ease. Ascending mauler in the run game. Bender who is low man off snap and pops hips into block to leverage defender at the point. Combines hips, arm extension and upper-body power to consistently turn his man when base blocking. Once he gets upper hand in run game, he usually sustains and finishes. Secures combo block with a vengeance. Has feet to become solid zone blocker. Mean and highly competitive. Wants to dominate and gets surly when beaten on a snap. Special foot quickness in pass protection. Able to mirror and counter two-way rushers or B-gap blitzers. Uses quick feet and loose hips to turn, scramble and recover when beaten. Pass-set depth and technique improved as year progressed. Has played both tackle positions.

Weaknesses

Pass protection needs plenty of work. Footwork gets sloppy and undisciplined, causing base to narrow. Ducks head into contact and is a leaner in pass pro, creating balance problems. Rarely flat-footed upon initial hand contact. Throws hands rather than firing authoritative punch. Hands ride too high and too wide. Content to become grabby around framework of defender. Flagged for six holding penalties over last two seasons. Slow to secure and climb on combo blocks and is often lacking balance on the way to target. Doesn't bring feet under him to sustain second-level blocks. Knocked off balance by smaller pass rushers due to poor balance. Hips looked tight and struggled to gain ground when asked to pass set in combine drills.

Draft Projection

Round 1

NFL Comparison

Jack Mewhort

Bottom Line

Flowers has good size and short area foot quickness, but he also features some lower body tightness and struggles to get proper depth quickly to consistently meet edge rushers. Some of Flowers' pass protection issue may be difficult to overcome. On the hand, his strength as a run blocker and ability to uproot his man and get them turned is undeniable. Flowers may be drafted as a tackle, but his best position could end up being as a guard where I would put a draft grade on him of 6.12.